Ever wondered how the Shell Oil Company got its start? What about its expansion and growth over the years?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the early beginnings of Shell, its major milestones and innovations, as well as its social and environmental impact.
Finally, we’ll explore what the future might hold for this giant oil company. So let’s get started.
Early Beginnings: Shell’s Founding
Marcus Samuel decided in 1833 to sell oriental seashells to grow his London antiquities business. He was taking advantage of their current prominence in the interior design sector.
The demand was so tremendous that he started importing the shells from the Far East, setting the stage for an import-export company that would eventually grow to be one of the top energy businesses in the world.
Marcus Samuel junior and Samuel took over the company after their father Marcus Samuel senior passed away in 1870, and they started to grow it.
They had a particular interest in the oil-exporting industry in the 1880s, but shipping faced challenges because oil was transported in barrels, which may leak and take up a lot of room.
Expansion & Growth: 1900-Present
In 1900, Marcus Samuel, Jr., took over the family business after his father’s death. Under Marcus Jr.’s leadership, the company continued to expand its operations. It built its first refinery in Singapore in 1902 and began selling gasoline in 1909.
It merged with Royal Dutch Petroleum Company in 1907 to form Royal Dutch/Shell Group—commonly known as simply “Shell.”
The company also became involved in exploration and production, drilling its first oil well in 1912 in Sumatra, Indonesia.
During World War I, Shell played an important role in supplying oil to the Allied forces. After the war ended, Shell continued to grow rapidly.
Expediential Growth
In the years since its formation, Shell has been involved in a number of noteworthy events. For example, it was one of several oil companies that were nationalized by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2007.
In 2015, Shell announced that it would be cutting 6,500 jobs worldwide due to falling oil prices. Most recently, in 2020, Shell agreed to pay $83 million to settle allegations that it had violated U.S. sanctions against Iran between 1995 and 2005.
Shell posted year-on-year adjusted profits of $39.9 billion for 2022 and also announced personnel layoffs of approx. 9,000 for 2023. The exact amount is still to be officially confirmed though 2022 voluntary redundancies will likely be included in the final figure.
Major Milestones & Innovations
Throughout its history, Shell has been involved in several major milestones and innovations. Here are just a few examples:
-1920: Shell becomes the first company to transport crude oil by pipeline when it opens a 485-mile pipeline between Kirkuk, Iraq, and Baku, Azerbaijan.
-1962: Shell develops synthetic fuel made from coal—a process known as gasification—which can be used to power vehicles and generate electricity.
-1991: Shell becomes the first oil company to develop an environmental management system (EMS), which is now used by businesses around the world.
-1995: Shell launches an innovative program called “Shell LiveWIRE” which provides training and support for young entrepreneurs aged 16-30 years old who have innovative business ideas.
-2015: Shell unveils plans for a “Powerful Sun” initiative which aims to use solar energy to power some of its operations around the world.
-2020: In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Shell begins producing hand sanitizer at two of its chemical plants—one in Malaysia and one in Scotland—to help meet global demand for the product.
Shell has had a significant social and environmental impact over the years—both positive and negative.
On the positive side, Shell has been praised for its commitment to safety and environmental protection; it was one of the first oil companies to develop an EMS (as mentioned above) and it has invested heavily in renewable energy initiatives like wind farms and solar power (as also mentioned above).
However, on the negative side, critics have accused Shell of causing environmental damage due to spills from its pipelines (such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill) and offshore drilling rigs (such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill).
They have also accused the company of contributing to climate change due to its production of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas.
Regardless of whether you believe these accusations or not, there’s no denying that Shell has had a huge impact on our world—and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Looking Forward: What’s Next?
So what does the future hold for Shell? Only time will tell but we can make some educated guesses based on recent events and trends.
For example, given that global demand for oil is expected to peak sometime within the next 10-20 years (due largely to electric vehicles becoming more popular), it’s likely that Shell will begin investing more heavily in renewable energy sources like wind farms and solar power plants so that it can stay afloat when demand for oil starts declining.
Additionally, given recent concerns about plastic pollution, it’s possible that Shell will also begin investing more heavily into developing sustainable alternatives to plastic – making them from renewable materials.
Only time will tell but one thing is certain: Shell will continue to be a major player on the global stage for many years to come.
Conclusion
Shell has had a significant social and environmental impact on our world for over a hundred years, both positive and negative.
As oil demand is expected to peak in the coming decade or so, Shell will likely have to adapt its business model by investing more heavily into renewable energy sources and sustainable alternatives to plastic.
Despite all of this, one thing remains clear: Shell will continue to be an influential force for many years to come.
With their commitment to safety and environmental protection, as well as their innovative initiatives such as “Shell LiveWIRE”, it’s no surprise that they are at the forefront of global progress when it comes to meeting our energy needs while protecting our planet.
Sources: THX News, Shell Oil & Shell Oil Company Company History.
